The Sheng Clan Estate is in a festive atmosphere. Just this morning, in the annual Awakening Ceremony, Patrairch Sheng Hentian's son, Sheng Henjian, awakened the Flame Maned Mountain Lion Spirit, a top-class Spirit Soul of the Sheng Clan, while his Innate Soul Power was measured to be of level 7; Even higher than the Patriarch's Innate Soul Power!
A huge banquet has been organized at the Sheng Clan's Main Plaza, dozens of tables, filled with all kinds of delicacies and beverages. Dancers and musicians are performing all over the place, young and old talking, eating and enjoying each others company. At the reserved table at the head of the other tables, elevated on the Main Plaza's Platform, many of the Elders sit with their families, at the middle of the table, Grand Elder Sheng Yuntian sits beside the young Sheng Henjian, taking lead of the festivities in the absence of the Patriarch.
However, not everything is as harmonious as it seems. The seats reserved for the families of the Fourth and Sixth Elder are all empty. Many guests of the banquet have also noticed this, as they whisper among themselves about the reasons for that. Many rumours couldn't be more accurate. The son of the Sixth Elder Sheng Lingtian, Sheng Feilong, did not awaken the clans hereditary Spirit Soul, instead he awakened a foreign Spirit Soul. However, the rumours don't end there. Many people saw the young boy awaken with Innate Full Soul Power as well as the unsightly expressions of the Grand Elder and Patriarch. Now, with the Patriarch, Sixth Elder and Fourth Elder absence, the scenery can be imagined...
Rumours are rumours, after all.
Sheng Feilong is still sleeping peacefully in his bed. As the festivities go on, he slowly wakes up and looks around. Seeing as it is already dark outside and hearing the bustling atmosphere outside, Sheng Feilong stands up and makes his way to his father's room. Gently knocking on the door, he hears the calm voice of his father, allowing him entrance, he pushes open the door and steps into the room.
However, not everything is as harmonious as it seems. The seats reserved for the families of the Fourth and Sixth Elder are all empty. Many guests of the banquet have also noticed this, as they whisper among themselves about the reasons for that. Many rumours couldn't be more accurate. The son of the Sixth Elder Sheng Lingtian, Sheng Feilong, did not awaken the clans hereditary Spirit Soul, instead he awakened a foreign Spirit Soul. However, the rumours don't end there. Many people saw the young boy awaken with Innate Full Soul Power as well as the unsightly expressions of the Grand Elder and Patriarch. Now, with the Patriarch, Sixth Elder and Fourth Elder absence, the scenery can be imagined...
Rumours are rumours, after all.
"Yes, I did, thank you, father." Sheng Feilong replied, grinning sheepishly while awkwardly scratching his head. Looking at his uncle and father, he asked "Did I interrupt you..?"
Inside the room, Sheng Lingtian and Sheng Fengtian are sitting on a small wooden table next to the bed. A cup of fragrant tea in front of each of them.
"Feilong, you're awake. Did you sleep well?" Sheng Lingtian asks with his usual calm expression and a slight smile on his lips.
"You didn't. We were just talking about today, and I was actually about to come and get you." Sheng Fengtian replied, before looking at Sheng Lingtian. "Now that Feilong's here, shall we go and see what the Patriarch has to say?"
"Very well. Feilong, come with us." Sheng Lingtian said. Though, seeing his sons troubled expression, he holds in his steps and puts his hand on Sheng Feilong's shoulder. "Don't worry. Everything will be okay. Just trust father on this one. You only have to come with us to see the Patriarch. We will take care of the rest." He continues on his way.
Walking along the clan's inner abode, they don't really come across anyone. Most of the people are near the Main Plaza, enjoying the festivities, while those that aren't keep to themselves in their own homes. It doesn't take long before the three of them reach the Main Hall, this massive building, overtowering most of the other buildings. Adorned with delicate ornaments and engravings, it represents the pride of the whole clan.
Moving past his nephew, Sheng Fengtian gives him an encouraging pat on the the back, accompanied by a nod, before he walks away as well. Sheng Feilong quickly skips after the two of them.
Pushing open one of the massive doors, they quickly spot Patriarch Sheng Hentian at the top of the main table, where he usually sits during clan meetings. Sheng Feilong's able to see that he's currently going through some documents of some sort, which he puts down the moment Sheng Fengtian closes the door behind the three of them. Not waiting for them to announce their presence, Sheng Hentian speaks up, while directly looking at Sheng Feilong.
"Sheng Feilong, the son of the Sheng Clan's Sixth Elder, Sheng Lingtian, and his deceased wife, Luo Beifong, currently 6 years of age. Has awakened the rare Spirit Soul of Spirit Eyes, Innate Soul Power of rank 10, also known as Innate Full Soul Power. Talent for becoming a Soul Master is therefore assumed to be of the highest degree."
"Brother Lingtian, this is a personal recommendation from the Sheng Clan's Patriarch for little Feilong to attend the Heaven Dou Primary Academy. The new year there will begin next month."
He pauses briefly before picking up one of the documents he was occupied with before, folds it twice and puts in in an envelope. Afterwards he proceeds by sealing the envelope by stamping the Sheng Clans official seal of approval on it. Sheng Hentian sighs deeply before looking at Sheng Lingtian, who was only watching him the whole time with a stoic expression.
Sheng Heitian slowly says, looking straight into Sheng Lingtian's eyes, who by now seems to suppress his incredible anger. Looking at each other for a few moments, Sheng Lingtian is the first to break the silence with an incredibly icy voice, which greatly surprises both, Sheng Feilong and Sheng Fengtian. However, it is not his voice that leads Sheng Feilongs face to pale, but his words.
"Sheng Hentian, are you banishing my son from the clan? To put your own son into the position of the next patriarch?!"
At this point, Sheng Fengtian freezes as well, however Sheng Hentian is still looking at Sheng Lingtian with the same determined and cold expression.
"Brother Lingtian, his talents would be wasted in our Sheng Clan. None of our cultivation techniques fit with his Spirit Soul. Moreover... I also have to consider the public opinion not just my own... The Heaven Dou Primary Academy has so much more to offer for him and you know that as well."
"You are willing to go that far for those damnable public opinions? Just to save some face in front of mere outsiders, you are forcing away my son, the greatest genius in the hundreds of years of history of our Sheng Clan?!" Sheng Lingtian did not even bother to suppress his anger anymore, his Soul Power recklessly charging out. In reaction to this, Sheng Fengtian hurriedly uses his own Soul Power to shield Sheng Feilong, who's countenance is ashen and is barely able to stand.
Sheng Hentian, using his own Soul Power to shield himself and the documents, still replies with iron determination.
"I am not forcing him away. I am giving him a chance to get a better life. Better than being an Elder's child who didn't manage to awaken the clan's hereditary Spirit Soul, who isn't able to cultivate the clan's cultivation techniques properly. Do let your own emotions blind you. This is all for the future of your son, Brother Lingtian."
Sheng Lingtian was about to refute the Patriarch, but then he heard the meek voice of his son, forcing a smile, while tears well in his eyes.
"Father, isn't that enough? Let's just go to Heaven Dou Primary Academy. Didn't you say that Heaven Dou City is so beautiful? That you wanted to take me there for sightseeing in the future? The Patriarch has done nothing wrong, right? It's me who doesn't have the clans hereditary Spirit Soul, right? He's just doing his job."
Seeing his son like this, Sheng Lingtian gradually calms down, his aura slowly retracting. He looks at his brother, Sheng Fengtian, with a pleading expression. "Fengtian, take Feilong back home. We're done here."
Sheng Fengtian nods before leading Sheng Feilong, who's still looking at his father, out of the Main Hall. A moment after them, Sheng Lingtian walks to the door as well, stopping just a step before it and speaks with his back towards the inner hall.
"From today onward, my family and I no longer have any connection to the Sheng Clan. It's life and death are no longer of concern to us. We will leave the clan's compound in three days. Until then we will not stir up any trouble and keep to ourselves."
With this Sheng Lingtian exits, closing the door shut after himself, leaving behind the lone figure of the Patriarch in the hall. A prolonged sign escapes Sheng Hentians mouth, before he turns around to the back of the hall, leaving as well.